Toy



TOY

Filed March 22, 1947 FIE--1- INVENTOR:

Llgyd mlliam Smuds,

ATTORN EY.

Patented Sept. 14, 1948 '1 TOY Lloyd William .Samuels,'.Allentown, Pa.ADDIicatiOn'MarcHZZ, 1947, Serial No. 736,529

This invention relates to toys of the type comprising an-:inflata*ble-device, such as a rubber balloon, and cooperating means adapted tofacilitate 'inflation of the device and release thereof for free flightaction induced by the discharge or escapementtherefrom of the air,orother fluid means; initially stored therein.

'-Oneobject of myinvention is to-provide a novel toy ofthe typeindicated, which has certain structural-and functional features ofadvantage over the similar prior art devices.

Another object is to provide such a toy comprisinga balloon-like devicehaving a' novel air, or other fluid; intake and discharge member,arranged to carry out a: certain "sound-producing vibrating-actionduring the time that the device is in free fli ht and while the fluidstored within the --device' is being discharged, or" escapes, through'said member.

A furtherdbject *isto'provide such a'toy comprising means for inflatingthe said balloon-like device; Which' means'includes a novel elementadapted to be temporarily in-serted intothe-fluid intake member of thedevicein such manner as to form a fluid-tight connection therewithduring the timeithatthe device; is being inflated, and which. elementfacilitates release of the device for simultaneously carrying outitsfree flight action and sound-producing effect, after inflationthereof to, the desired extent.

It'is also "an object toprovide'such a toy comprisingmeans for inflatingthesaid balloon-like device, which means includes a novelelement adaptedtohave the device frictionally secured thereto in such manner as to'eflect s'elf-disem gagement of; the device from said element when thedevice isinfiated to a certain extent.

Other objectsof the invention are, to'provide such a=toy includingaballoon-like device integrally formed of stretchable elastic material,such as rubben and comprisingan inflatable section, and an elongated airinlet and discharge section, thewall' at the forwardend of whichlattersection is or substantially uniform thicknessto and including theedge portion defining the. opening thereof; and to provide such a toycomprising a tubular unitfor inflating a balloon-like devicevof theindicated type, which unitis provided witha mouth piece tat one endhaving a check valve associated therewith, and at its, opposite end isprovided with a; tip elementgof lengthwise extending forwardly taperedconfiguration, arranged.

slitha't theair inlet'and discharge" section of. the balloon ,devicemaybefri'ctionally engaged jtherewith inairtight relationand in suchmanner as tofacilitate=releasecorselfsdisengagementziofithe ballooonwhen the-air within the devicesreachesa certain pressure.

' With these and otherobjects in=view,- which will become. more,apparentifrorm': the followingalde tailed description .of. a practical:a-nd illustrative embodiment'of myrimprov'ed toy shown inthe=accompanying drawings; the invention comprises the novelballoon-like device;thecinflating deuice used-in conjunction -therewith,as well as thenovel elements, -features ot construction and ar rangement.ofr pa-rts in cooperative relationship, as+moreparticularly d'eiln'ed:aby the hereto ap-- pended claims.

- In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of one-form nt my novel-toy; asitrappears-when-in readinessfor use-and while the balloon-like devicethereot is deflated; the scale of"the=* toy "shownbeing about one-halffull size.

Fig. 2: is a central longitudinai section -oi=-the'- toy shown in Fig.1.

"Fig. 3 is. an elevati'onal" cross-seetional :view. taken substantiallyas indicated-by ine arrows- 3-'-3:on' Fig. 2.

Fig. 4-is an elevational:cross-sectional view, takensubstantially asindicated by the arrows 4 -4 on Fig; 2; and Fig. S isasideelevationalviewof one typeof balloon-dike device forming-part of my invention; asit-appears when inflated so as-to be capable of simultaneously carryingout itsfree flight ac: tion and sound-producing*efiect.

As shown in the drawings; my novel toy generallycomprises -"twoseparate" cooperating; r le-'- vices, a balloon-like device I, and adevice'i ior inflating thelatter.

Theballoon-like device'l isintegrally formed or thin stretchableelastic-material, such ,as rub;- ber, -and comprisesaninflatablesectionor member 3; which maybe of-the configuration shown, or-someothercon-figuration, and a reduced section ormember 4,- whicl'i forms aneck through which/the air freely flows. when the member 3 isebeinginflated or'deflated.

. "The balloon-dike device difiers fmmsuchodeeviceslofi-the' priorartinthatxthe wall of the mem-- her 4? is throughout its "entire:length, that is, to and-inc u in -t e dQer r iQnw ich d n s h front.opening thereof. I: have. ifound inr practice, that when the forwardendof the member. 4. is, provided with, such a. wall structure and theFair. inflated device I. is released for freeflightaction discharge, 'orescapementyoftheair through the .of substantially. uniform thicknessmember 4 will not only function to propel the device I in the usualmanner well known in this art, but will simultaneously cause the member4' to carry out a vibrating action that produces a noise, tone, or soundeffect. This sound effect, which is somewhat like a relatively loudbuzzing noise, or tone, adds considerable pleasure to the use of the toyby children, in that they imaginatively associate the flight action ofthe device I and the simultaneously created buzzing sound, with theconditions prevailing when an airplane or the like, is in flight. Thisadded sound feature, therefore, greatly enhances the saleability of mytoy. When making a selection of a toy of this type,.

children are obviously inclined to prefer one which not only simulatesthe flight of ana'irplane,

but also the sound thereof.

The device 2 is particularly 7 designed to facilitate inflation andlaunching of the balloon-like device I by children, without danger ofdetrimental consequences in the event that the device I should break orburst during the inflating action. The device .2 comprises a tubularmember 5 of cardboard, plastic material,

or the like, having a mouth piece 6 secured thereto at one end, and atip element I at its opposite, or front end.. The mouth piece 6 is madeof wood or the like, and is generally of a conical, or tapered,configuration. Centrally extending through the piece 6, is a bore orpassage 8. At

its inner end, the mouth piece 6 is provided with a check-valve member9, in the form of a circular piece of flexible sheet material, such asrubber, which is secured to the flat end surface of the piece 6, at somepoint adjacent the bore 8, by suitable means, such as an adhesivematerial indicated by the numeral Ill. The hinge-like connection thusformed between the valve member 9 and mouth piece,permits movement ofthe upper part of the member 9 away from the fiat inner surface of themouth piece 6, when air is blown through the device 2 in the directionof thgballoon device I-.; When flow of air takes place through thedevice 2, in the opposite direction, that is, from the balloon device I,the valve member 9 is pressed tightly against the flat inner surface ofthe mouth piece 6, thus closing the passage 8. Accordingl air is blownthrough the device 2 for the purpose of inflating a balloon device Iwhich is temporarily attached to the front end of the device 2 as shownin Fig. l, and during the time'that a child, or person, is inhaling air,the check-valve member 9 automatically closes the passage 8, therebypreventing the air already in the balloon device I from escaping throughthe device 2. I

The tip element I, secured to the front end of the tubular member- 5,may also be made of wood or the like, and is generally made the same insize and shape .as the mouth piece 6,-With a view toward effecting lowproduction cost of the device 2. The element -I is provided with acentrally located longitudinally extending:bore ,or passage II ofsubstantially the-same diameter as the passage 8 of the mouth piece 6.The conical or 'tapered outer front surface portion of the tip element lismade smooth and is adapted to receive and have'frictionally connectedthereto a portion of the open end of the balloon member 4. By insertingthe tip element I into the open end of the member 4 until the latter isstretched or expanded to a greater or lesser extent, the gripping orholdingconnection between the element Iandrnember 4.can be regulatedgasdesired.

constructed and I flying off action, dorwardly tapered smooth outersurface of the After the balloon device I has been connected or attachedto the tip element I, as explained, and shown in Fig. 1, the toy ispointed upwardly and air is blown through the device 2 so as to inflatethe device I. As soon as a certain amount of air has been blown into theballoon device I, and the latter expanded or inflated to a certainpoint, so that the'air pressure in the device I is sufliciently great toovercome the frictional connection thereof with thetip element. I, theballoon device I will be automatically released, or will fly off the tipelement I. This release, or is facilitated by reason of the element I.After release or disconnection of the balloon device I, it will bepropelled upwardly and caused to fly about in various directions,during'escape of air through the member 4, and the latter willsimultaneously carry out the soundproducing vibrations and produce thebuzzing noise or sound, as previously explained- ITheflying action andsound effect of the device I, will continue until thelatter issubstantially entirely deflated. Thereafter, it will obviously drop tothe ground.

Instead of insertingthe tip element I into the balloon device member 4to such an extent that these parts will be morefirmly frictionallyconnected, to carry out the self-releasing action of the balloon deviceI, as above explained, a lighter air-tight connection can be effected byinserting the tip I into the member 4 to alesser extent, and holding themember 4 in place with the fingers of the hand. When so held, the.balloon device I can be released at will, and irrespective of the amountof air pressure in the balloon device I.

The mouth piece .6 and tip element I may be provided with shoulderedportions 6 and l at their inner ends, so as to effect a smooth fittingjoint, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and may be either frictionallyconnected with .the tubular member 5, or by some suitable means such asan adhesive material.

Of course, the toy device herein shown and described can be changed andmodified in various ways by the substitution of equivalent ma-. terialsand parts, or in other ways which-will become. readily apparent tothoseskilled in this art from the disclosureu'nade, without howeverdeparting from the scope of the invention which is more particularlyindicated by the hereto ap-. pended claims.

I claim:

l. A My comprising the combination with a balloon formed of stretchableelastic rubber which balloon is provided with a fluid inlet meminflating fluid within the balloon reaches 'a 'cer tain pressure. i

2. A toy comprising the combination witha balloon formed of stretchableelastic rubber which balloon is providedfwith anjelongated air inletmember j of atubular devicefi r inflating" the balloon, which device" isprovided with ,a mouth piece at oneendandf at its opposite e'nd with atip element of lengthwisetapered ,con-

figuration arranged sothatthe open end of. said member may befrictionally engaged therewith in si ichmanner as to, facilitateself-disengage 5 ment of the balloon when the air within the latterreaches a pressure which overcomes the frictional engagement of themember and element.

3. A toy comprising in combination; a balloon integrally formed of thinrubber, which balloon is provided with an inflatable section having anelongated air inlet member the wall of which is of substantially uniformthickness to and including the edge portion defining the openingthereof; and a separate elongated tubular device for inflating theballoon, which device is provided at the rear end thereof with amouthpiece of substantially uniform thickness to and inelement arrangedto be temporarily inserted into the open end of the air inlet member insuch manner as to effect an airtight connection between the device andmember during inflation of the balloon and to facilitate disengagementof the balloon from the device after the latter has been inflated to adesired extent.

LLOYD WILLIAM SAMUELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

